Staten Island Technical High School students endure one of the hardest academic programs in the city. They offer only one difficult language (Russian), have one of the most demanding curriculums in the city (which the majority excels at), and yet has the one of the highest probabilities for graduation accompanied with scholarship and college entrance.

Keep in mind these students also enjoy sports, while at the same time, achieving high academic grades. Our own son participates in basketball and football while maintaining a 99 average.

Staten Island Tech’s athletic facility was modern in 1965. It’s now 2011! The city has given new facilities to New Dorp, Wagner, Port Richmond, Tottenville and Curtis. Meanwhile, Staten Island Tech’s facilities remain outdated and disgraceful, to say the least. The city should think about updating facilities based on academic performance. If the students work hard, graduate on time and go to college, don’t they deserve the best facilities on Staten Island?

If not the best, how about athletic facilities at least as good as all the others? Don’t they deserve it? Or, even better, haven’t they earned it?